The Barrio

 
I got my first taste of Latin flavor at the age of fourteen  
raised in an upper middle class family  
my only adventures came from books  
 
my parents well meaning  
were very strict  
my home life bland  
 
we moved to the barrio  
when my parents divorced  
finally free my soul soared  
 
my stepmom too busy  
with work had loosened  
the reigns on me  
 
this is when I first met  
the cholas and cholos  
so different from me I was intrigued  
 
the cholas Latin perfection pleated pants, sexy tops  
feathered hair and faces made up so beautifully  
they were ever so lovely these Latin lasses  
 
the cholos wore a uniform of a different kind  
short hair combed back, baggy slacks and shirts  
ah they made my knees weak  
 
Angel my very first crush  
such a beautiful boy named just right  
I never dreamed he would choose me  
 
though when he did made the girls green with envy  
the Thriller video playing in the background  
Angel and I innocently explored each other  
 
my first lover Daniel his kisses on my neck  
made me wet, we started out just petting  
soon I couldn't resist him and let him have my virginity  
 
for me it was the summer of love  
walking in the neighborhood late at night  
with Dianna the most beautiful chola in the world  
 
she would chirp out her call to see who was around  
chirping back was Thomas and Frankie  
took us lowriding Egyptian lover bumping on the stereo  
 
cruising Kings Canyon pure heaven  
cruisin and chillin at the park  
I finally had flavor in my life  
 
I will forever be in love  
with the cholos and cholas  
I met there  
 
even Joseph a piece of shit  
though he blessed me with  
my beautiful Candy sweet Latin queen  
 
when I had to leave my home  
Mary took me in taught me how to cook  
showed me acceptance  
 
though my first attempts at tortillas  
looked like maps  
thanks to this lady I'm a damn fine cook  
 
this is a part of my life, a piece of who I am  
called La Baby Blue Eyes  
by my Latin clan  
 
where ever you're at today  
know you're in my mind  
cruising forever

(note picture is my beautiful daughter Candace who I was blessed with at fifteen)